Not just for vampires, garlic also has a strong smell that rabbits find unpleasant. 7. Rabbits from yards away can quickly scent the sharp odor emanating from chives, similar to the pungent smell of garlic. Actually, Rabbits do not like the smell of peppermint.To help keep rabbits out of garden areas, put 2-3 drops of Young Living Peppermint Oil on a cotton ball or piece of fabric. Wolves are typically found in similar places as lynxes: cold, mountainous, or in a more northern area, particularly the Northwest parts of the United States or Canada. todecide how humane you want to be in your approach to deter them. They could eat lavender plants, but some are repealed by the odor while others receive the calming aroma well when the oil mixed with water is gently rubbed on their fur. Think of it this way. and other creatures will eventually avoid it. In an article published on Michigan State University Extension, its stated that while dried blood can infact be used to repel rabbits (along with deer), the blood will lose its effectiveness after a rainfall and will need to be reapplied. If they pick up a scent that is unpleasant or irritating to them, theyll hardly want to stay and sample the buffet you call your garden. Make sure that you dont spray vinegar directly on your plants, as it can cause them to wilt. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. This can then be used along the borders. Strain, and then add enough water to make a gallon of the mixture. . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Good ol fashioned chili powder. Consider adding plants with a strong scenta rabbits sense of smell is much stronger than a humans. You can take advantage of this trait by using scents they dislike, such as garlic, vinegar, chili powder, predator urine, sulfur, blood meal, chives, lavender, geraniums, and wax begonias. Yes, red pepper flakes will keep rabbits away from your flowers and produce. This means it has some nitrogen and a whole lot of phosphorus, which is great depending on what youre growing. Actually, Rabbits do not like the smell of peppermint.To help keep rabbits out of garden areas, put 2-3 drops of Young Living . Discover the Surprising Size of Lionhead Rabbits: How Big Do They Get? link to Discover the Surprising Size of Lionhead Rabbits: How Big Do They Get? Rabbits enjoy the odor of vanilla because it is sweet. This is not only an easy do-it-yourself solution, but its repeatable over and over again. OK, just let me clarify. While it may depend on what kind of scent you are using, typically with the smell them away method, you are simply spraying or otherwise applying the scent to the area around your garden or flowerbeds. The plants that rabbits prefer to eat are grasses, roses, clovers, daisies, dandelions, kale, spinach, broccoli, beans, and lettuce. Here are some common plants and flowers that repel rabbits, almost guaranteeing youll have one less pest to deal with this year. If this happens, fill a spray bottle with lemon and vinegar and spray it on the metal to deter them from licking/chewing this area. is an excellent option because it also acts as a natural fertilizer for your plants, adding healthy nitrogen to the soil. P.S. Add water to cover, and place into a covered container overnight. Most of the time, owners report their rabbits enjoying the plant. But,some people mention how this doesnt work at all. Pee-ew! Now that we know what to do, your next question may be: why is this method so effective? Rabbits have an excellent sense of smell thats 20 timesbetter than humans. In fact, they can develop upper respiratory problems because of them. Soak a couple of used corn cobs, paper towels, or cotton balls in some vinegar and place them around the plants you want the rabbits to stay away from. Knowing the specifictype. Of course, a hungry rabbit will eat just about anything, but making your garden less tempting will hopefully have them scurrying to look for a tastier meal elsewhere. if its possible and you know from where they emerge, place some food scraps or their favorite food. Never feed your rabbits essential oils Contrary to what other people say, I suggest that you never attempt to feed your rabbits any essential oil. Some varieties smell like cat urine, gasoline, or a strong citrus smell, which may explain why they are called stink flowers. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 11(7), 903-919. Licking can be so instinctual that they're immediately drawn to lick the second they smell your scent! It might be in the middle of your morning coffee, or it might be in the middle of the night, but you have had this, Read More 12 Ways To Get Crows To Shut Up And Stop CawingContinue, Raccoons are amazing and fascinating creatures, but that does not mean that most people want them in their yard, garden, or home. Rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and other creatures will eventually avoid it. However, since some of these plants do not carry strong odors themselves, we dont recommend using these alone to keep rabbits away from your lawn. If you walked into a restaurant looking for a buffet meal, but the entire establishment smelled strongly of rotting eggs, you most likely wouldnt want to eat there, correct? Manage Settings Just having the coffee grounds in your garden will repel rabbits. Required fields are marked *. There is a reason why smelling them away remains the most popular solution amongst gardeners, it can be a quick an effecitve strategy to keeping rabbits away from your plants and making your harvest (or just your flowers) all the more fruitful. Thank you for visiting PocketPetCentral.com for the best information to help you enjoy the life of your pocket pet companion in a fun, safe & healthy way. Fabric and air fresheners. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Its pretty obvious to anyone passing by our site that we really love rabbits, however, there are plenty of places where wild rabbit populations are so great that they are considered pests. USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. These ingredients are useful to know especially for us rabbit lovers who choose to deter rather than kill. While this is a very effective solution, it is also time-consuming. Essential Oil concentrates that are known to be Pet Poisons include: Generally, the following oils are considered safe for rabbits: lavender, lemon, orange, fennel, peppermint, eucalyptus. You can avoid these odors if you wish for your pet to be comfortable and relaxed in your home. Like we mentioned before, rabbits have such sensitive noses so they can sniff out potential predators. You can often find it at your local gardening center or store. Keeping your rabbit inside Rabbits can live quite happily indoors and they should be provided with secure accommodation where they can feel safe, sleep, use a particular area as a toilet, and be confined to when unsupervised. If you are looking at using this home remedy, simply dilute some white rice vinegar in a spray bottle of water, and spray it liberally in the area surrounding your plants. Sullivan, T. P., Nordstrom, L. O., & Sullivan, D. S. (1985). In many cases of wild rabbits damaging outdoor crops, gardeners and farmers alike use coffee grounds scattered on the soil. Deer can damage plants 6 feet high, and they tear plants when eating so that the stems and leaves are ragged, not cleanly cut like rabbit damage. It should be no surprise that plants with a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like lavender and black-eyed Susan are less popular with rabbits. If you kill an adult, you may be leaving behind a whole litter of bunnies that will be without a mother. Some methods listed above, like vinegar and garlic, are toxic to rabbits. What smells do rabbits hate? But,you want to ma. Also, youll have to reapply this every three to four weeks to keep the smell ripe and fresh. Rabbits noses are extremely sensitive, mainly why you frequently see rabbits constantly twitching their little sniffers in the air. A rabbit may not wish to come back to the same area where they hear these noises ever again. Use common sense on if a certain smell needs to be reapplied often (usually 1-2 times a week depending on how strong the scent naturally is or what product you have.). Read on to learn more about what smells rabbits hate and how you can use them, as well as other tips and tricks to get those pesky furballs to stop eating your plants! Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. A rabbits excellent sense of smell can be a negative and positive. Yuck! Citrus is effective against other pests like transient cats, bugs, and slugs but not rabbits, deer, or squirrels. It would be nice if there were plants that are truly rabbit-proof, but as with other animals, rabbits can surprise you. They may take a bite, but they will experience the heat and wont like it. My impression of a rabbit is one where I make a sniffing face with my nose scrunched upwards. If you have a cat or a dog and its feasible, allow them to urinate around the perimeter of your garden. This is why we cannot be certain that a rabbit is either stressed, uncomfortable or completely repulsed by some of the odors that we have in our home. Inspect the rabbit's hutch to determine if it's the source of the smell. Therefore, unlike dogs, rabbits do not have a very distinct "Rabbit Smell". Use vinegar instead. It may affect the esthetic look of your garden. The texture and smell are repulsive and only gets stronger on sunny days. As their twitching noses indicate, rabbits sniff a lot. Chili Powder is commonly used as a repellent due to its active ingredient, Capsaicin. Rabbits also hate the smell of blood, crushed red peppers, ammonia, vinegar, and garlic. Most of them are used as repellents for wild, nuisance rabbits to prevent from ravaging gardens and farms. There are many smells that rabbits hate. n the natural order of things. A rabbits natural predators are mainly coyotes, bobcats, lynxes, and wolves in the wild. You can purchase predator urine, like bears, coyotes, and foxes, from sporting goods, home improvement, or gardening stores. using things like chicken wire or mesh around. Essential Oil Repellents for Rabbits. Rabbits can and do recognize their owners. So, unless youve turned your yard into a wildlife sanctuary, theres a good chance that youll want to keep rabbits far away from all the plants, flowers, and shrubs youve spent so much time and effort on. Spray onto plants, repeating after rainfall. Knowing the specifictypethey are, their eating habits, what their natural predatorsare,and other similar details will be the first step in deterring them from your plants. All of our posts have been carefully researched before publishing to ensure that they are to the best of our knowledge, accurate. They're known for their distinctive mane, making them look like the lions of Thump, Thump! 1, 2020. doi:10.1136/vetreco-2020-000402. Lemon Balm is a useful herb that can be added to your rabbits' diet every few days. And these oils are generally NOT safe for rabbits: anise, clove, oregano, tea tree, wintergreen. Sulfur mimicks the scent of rotten eggs (mentioned in the garlic section) which rabbits despise due to their sensitive noses. Simply soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and place it in a small jar or canister with holes poked in the lid. Peppermint. Rabbits, on the other hand, are not coffee fans and they certainly wont be setting up home in your garden at its scent. So, you may see increased fox or coyote activity because of the smell, which may create additional problems. Yes. But,it is toxic to rabbits, and it can hurt them. Copyright 2023 This Old House Ventures, LLC. The entire list of plants that rabbits will eat, or at least sample, is too long to list out. This guy right next to me? {When Attacked or Scared}, Does Rabbit Pee Stain Clothes? Can Rabbits Eat Lemons? In this article, we will look at smells rabbits like, are repelled by, and which ones cause them stress, but lets first address the question, What smells do rabbits hate?: First of all, rabbits have a sensitive sense of smell where certain aromas that we find tolerable or appealing causes them to be repelled, repulsed or even stressed. Use vinegar instead. Its formulated with a base mix of putrescent whole egg solids, capsaicin, and garlic, which are actually three of the individual scents we talk about on this list! Better yet, once the gardening season is over, you can harvest the chives and use them in your cooking, so once again, its a win-win for you. Naturally this means that smells that may seem mild to us can be quite overbearing to a rabbit. Remove from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. If youre interested in taking a look at a quality blood meal product for your plants, take a look at Burpee Organic Blood Meal Fertilizer, which Is ideal for leafy garden vegetables! You can use both blood and bone meal if it will be beneficial to your plants. Rabbits are great pets to have, especially when you have children. It is very hardy and grows up to 4 feet tall. Other plants that rabbits hate include: Rabbits leave these plants alone in the wild. But if you still want to include these plants, there are also a few other tricks for making rabbits disappear from your garden. If you dont like the thought of having to mix this yourself, take a peek at the Safer Brand Critter Ridder: Deer and Rabbit Repellent. So if your dog pees anywhere in your yard, rabbits will smell it! Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Valerian Root. Capsaicin is the compound that gives chilis their hot flavor and acts as an irritant to both animals and also humans in the form of pepper sprays.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bunnyadvice_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',632,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bunnyadvice_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Chili powder can be purchased wholesale and can be sprinkled around gardens plants and vegetable beds a couple of times a week to ensure it is at its most effective. Do rabbits like the smell of lemongrass? . Its getting colder, and with it comes the irresistible need to cozy up at home maybe burn a scented candle or add a touch of essential oil in the air but is it safe for your buns? How do coffee grounds keep rabbits away? Bone meal makes a great fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 3.5-17-0. Some species or unique rabbits may hate them, but this is not a smell that makes the list of scents that all rabbits hate. She grew up with cats and rabbits, and knew from a young age that she wanted to help animals in whatever way she could. You can purchase predator urine, like bears, coyotes. Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits fit the bill, albeit a little acidic. Lemongrass, a herb used in many recipes and essential oils, can be grown as a perennial plant with low maintenance. Since theyre found all over, its a good bet to use coyote urine instead of one of the other predator scents, as theres a very good chance that an intruding rabbit will know what the presence of a coyote seems like. But rabbits have two pairs of both upper and lower incisors, while rodents have only one set. But, after theyre gone, repeat this regimen about once a month to prevent any new rabbits from invading your garden. First, you want to determine what species of rabbit you have in your garden. However, if you find that using scents to repel rabbits isnt for you, for whatever reason, be sure to utilize one of our other options! your garden or each plant is very reliable. Some people are fine setting traps because they enjoy a good rabbit stew. Yes. Dr. Elly Cameron is a veterinarian who has always loved animals. They will devour tender shoots in spring and gnaw through bark in the winter. If you are growing any of these indoors or near your rabbits enclosure, move them because they could be causing stress or discomfort that you never knew about. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Rabbits are cute little critters, but not when they eat and nip at the garden youve. Dust the soil around the plants you wish to deter rabbits from and, over that, layer some black pepper for added effect. Place these around the garden, and the vinegar scent will help to keep the rabbits at bay. You may not know it, but some of the smells that are coming from your kitchen are making your rabbit quite stressed in the living room. Ive even seen that raw eggs, garlic liquid and water mixed together and sprayed on the soil to absolutely repels rabbits. Some rabbits may get accustomed to the smell, thereby eating your garden anyway and to their hearts content. Secondly, I would have to say that rabbits hate the smell of sulfur. But,inform yourself before doing this because it might not be the best idea. Yes, blood meal and bone meal can keep rabbits away from your flowers and food plants. Try looking out for a bulk bag of chili powder at your local wholesale store and spread the mix around your garden 1-2 times a week to keep the scent at its peak. It may take a little while to convince the rabbits to look elsewhere for their dinner. They are herbivores and can make a quick meal of your garden. It comes with scent tags, so you can spray the tag itself and place it nearby your plants, where the smell itself will last a bit longer being infused with the tag. Common irritants to rabbits include: Carpet cleaning products. Rabbit owners often find themselves wondering about the reasons behind this My interest in rabbits started over a decade ago when I bought one as a gift and ended up being the primary carer. However, you may make your rabbit drink apple cider vinegar buy diluting it with water. The following are examples of sounds that rabbits hate: A rabbit may respond subtly by remaining motionless or playing dead with these intense sounds trigger them. Make sure the smell will be strong enough to repel rabbits. Its going to depend on how bad the infestation is. Even though rabbits have a strong sense of smell, lemon may not actually repel them. In other words, think like a rabbit. The bunny was an indoor pet that could not handle outdoor temperatures. If your rabbit does like sage, it will provide them with many great vitamins and minerals. This rabbit may refuse your affection and make stop eating altogether. Of everything mentioned previously, this is one of the more promising rabbit repellents. The reason why is because rabbits are sensitive to noises. In Proceedings of the 2nd Vertebrate Pest Control Conference (1964) (p. 15). Possible Reasons Why a Seemingly Healthy Rabbit Can Suddenly Die. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. If your chosen repellent is often removed or rinsed away, you may have to build or configure some sort of shelter to reduce the need to reapply the stinky deterrents. However, do note that the scent of begonias is more likely to be pungent on sunny days, so you may not get as strong of rabbit repelling scent on those cloudy, overcast days. Up until then, I had no idea that they were such great pets! Remove from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. . Michael Morris, hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, has rabbit and deer repellent products and plants that the critters don't like at its . Sprinkle several drops around the vicinity of your garden or around the plants from which you wish to deter the rabbits. Vinegar is an effectivemethod for ridding rabbits from your yard and garden. Due to their heightened sense of smell, predator urine such as fox or coyote is also an effective rabbit repellant. several methods, its still not guaranteed to work 100%. Rabbits the feeling of fear. Naturally, one of the solutions to getting rid of rabbits is to get rid of the places they like to hide and making them not want to venture into your yard in the first place. Vet Rec Open, vol. Positioning lavender near your affected plants is a win-win. They do have their favorite foods and those they tend to avoid, but when food is scarce, they will eat just about anything. What smell do rabbits love? (Rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents.). What Does It Mean When A Rabbit Raises Its Tail? No, citrus does not keep rabbits away. Also, take the strained pepper flakes and sprinkle them around your plants. Many owners mistakenly believe that this essential oil is good for getting rid of fleas or fungus on rabbits. Moshobane, Claude Moshobane et al. This is when rabbits feel danger or perceived threats and they will usually respond by running away from these loud sounds. So, it would be best to use this scent if you live above the Mason-Dixon line, in the mountains, or in a place that routinely gets cold. Essential oils can be pleasing for some as it is said to have relaxing properties, but others may hate them and be repulsed by these strong odors. The powerful concentration of scents that essential oils deliver makes them a great deterrent to rabbits. in addition to smell, rabbits run at the onset of loud sounds. Darren is the founder and editor at Bunny Advice and has been caring for rabbits for over a decade. Due to their heightened sense of smell, predator urine such as fox or coyote is also an effective rabbit repellant. As I learned more and more I decided to create this website to share my passion and experience of these amazing animals. On the contrary, rabbits find coffee to be an overpowering smell that quickly makes them turn and run in the opposite direction. Spread dried or moist, yet used, coffee grounds around the plants you want the rabbits to avoid. It will also help to keep their fur coat looking lustrous and silky. Sorry, a bit hungry while writing this. So if you live in the Southeast or Southwest, coyote urine may be an excellent go-to for scaring rabbits away. Keep the area as peaceful as possible. Due to their heightened sense of smell, predator urine such as fox or coyote is also an effective rabbit repellant. While this may mean getting rid of some plants you like, the payoff for your garden may be worthwhile. Visit our Terms and Conditions for more information. If you have any type of wood materials inside, on,, Read More 8 Scents that Termites HateContinue, Mealybugs might just be the very last thing you want to find lurking in your soil! Rabbits, if hungry enough, will disregard any offenses to their sense of smell and eat your plants, flowers, veggies and fruits anyway. Now, please keep in mind that lemon is mildly toxic to cats, according to the . Read our. While humans may enjoy the calming scent of lavender, rabbits despise lavender due to the strong scent and bitter irritation it provides to them. You can use a simple pre-made garlic spray or easily make your own by mixing some with a few raw eggs and pouring the mixture around your plants and garden. When reading our posts please remember that every rabbit is different and as such we cannot comment on personal experiences. If you soak a cotton ball with vinegar and place it in areas that you do not wish your rabbit to explore, they will stay away. My only concern would be how strong incense can be as it not only releases an intense smell but also smoke into the air. Instead, they usually opt to nibble on the green tops, which still ruins the crop just the same. Its high in nitrogen. Rabbits grazing in your flower beds will simply eat around the less enticing plants. Trapping them may create more problems than it solves. They have 100 million scent cells with a nasal membrane sensitive to chemicals, dust, and perfumes. Naturally, scents need to be reapplied periodically in order to repel our furry friends, especially after heavy rainfall. While they may not eat these particular plants, they may simply eat around them. You can give lavender to your rabbit fresh or even dried, allowing your rabbit to forage for the yummy pieces of lavender. {Why Rabbits Pee On You}, Do Wolves Eat Rabbits? 12 Ways To Get Crows To Shut Up And Stop Cawing, 3 Unique Ways That Raccoons Can Damage Your Trees, Why Bats Will Leave On Their Own (And What To Do If They Dont), 8 Signs Of A Skunk Den (And How to Find Them), How To Identify And Naturally Remove Mealybugs In Your Soil.
